Meet Giovanna Lazcano | Pet Sitter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Giovanna Lazcano and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Giovanna, what’s the most difficult decision you’ve ever had to make?
One of the most difficult decisions I’ve ever had to make in this business is saying no to a client. As a pet sitter, before actually starting the check in visits a meet and greet is scheduled. This gives the pet parents an opportunity to meet me, show me around, explain their pets routine, and get a feel for who will be caring for their fur babies. For me, this is also when I decide if the client and I are a good fit. When I first started my business, the word “no” never crossed my mind since I was so eager to build a clientele, but as the years passed, I was presented with more responsibilities in life which had me in burn out mode. My entire day consisted of driving around town, keeping up with keys, and making sure I arrived to all my visits on time. Don’t get me wrong, I loved it but my family and body aches said other wise. I was forced to create boundaries between my personal life and business. I still remember the first time I had to say no to a job.. they had just adopted a puppy and if you know anything about puppies, you know how much supervision and play time they need. I already had two jobs on the books for that week and after seeing this pups schedule, I knew I couldn’t dedicate enough of my time to this job. After saying no my mind prepared me for an angry response back from the owners, but as you may have guessed, they were super kind about it and kept my card anyways. I did recommend a few sitters I know, and luckily they found someone who could stay and care for their fur baby. In the end, I felt so relieved that I found the courage and introspection to say no instead of overworking myself and possibly risk making mistakes that could have been avoidable. Saying no is something I still struggle with from time to time, but I have to remind myself that I can’t pour from an empty cup.

What should our readers know about your business?
My whole life I was always around dogs, and since I could remember I always had a dog best friend. My parents aside from their individual careers, were dog breeders but not by choice. We had two scotch terriers, Micheal Jackson and Margaret Thatcher. They were a lovely pair and when nature called, my parents ended up with a litter of puppies. It was in that moment that my parents found joy, and ultimately saw my joy of being surrounded by a sea of puppies. However, all good things must come to an end, as they say and a new journey awaited us. Twenty two years ago, my parents and I moved from Mexico City to the United States due to a job offer my dad received. I was only four and had no clue of what was going on, I just knew I didn’t have my puppies. The first few years of settling in, having a pet was the last thing on my parents mind and I don’t blame them. It wasn’t until my parents bought a house that I was finally able to have a dog. It had to be a dog though since my mom is allergic to cats. That is when I met my childhood pet, Tootsie (yes like the candy – what happens when kids name their pet haha). Around her tenth year she became ill out of no where almost, and we had to put her down. Probably one of the hardest things to do as a teen, but if it wasn’t for Tootsie, my idea for this business would have never occurred to me. When she passed away, I was left with an emptiness and yearning to be around pets. One of my neighbors had recently gotten a dog and was going to be away for the day so they asked me if I wouldn’t mind letting him out a few times that day. It was in that moment that I knew what was next for me. A pet sitting company meant an opportunity to receive all the cuddles, wet nose kisses, and pets that I missed so much. The same joy my parents saw on my face as a baby surrounded by a sea of puppies, was back once more. I have learned that we all just want a chance to be loved, and chance to love. I cherish all my relationships with the pets I care for and the bond I have built with their owners as well. Seeing pet parents grow as a family and getting to be a part of it is so wholesome and something I hold dear to my heart.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
As someone who has lived in DFW for 20+ years, I am still in awe of all the places I have yet to visit! There is always something to do for everyone but if it were up to me I would start out with breakfast at First Watch at Glade Parks. Whether you want the traditional breakfast or looking for something lighter, you will leave feeling super satisfied. Then, if it was a Saturday, we would visit the Farmers Market on the Plaza in Glade Parks and support local vendors. I would definitely have to show them around Downtown Grapevine as well, and even go on a wine tour there! Walking down Main street in Grapevine is always enjoyable for the whole family, including the fur babies! On a different day, early in then morning I would take them to Grapevine Lake and hike the trails there, enjoy the beautiful waterfront views, and finish off our hike with a refreshing dip in the water. If they were up to it, we could do kayaking or paddle boarding at Rockledge Park. For lunch we would go to Lazy Dog restaurant and refuel! I love this restaurant not only for the food and drinks, but because it’s so dog friendly! They have a food option for dogs and bring out water for them, so cute. I would also reserve an entire day to explore Downtown Dallas. For food, Flower Child would be the place to go! The food is absolutely delicious and customizable, but what adds the cherry on top is the aesthetically pleasing decorations. Next up, is Ruibal’s Plants of Texas, my favorite plant shop ever! From houseplants, to bedding plants, and trees you could truly spend all your time admiring the beauty that lies there. Dinner would be at The Rustic enjoying the patio and possibly even catch a show there that night. The Bishop Arts District would also have to be a must, especially Emporium Pies! All in all, there will always be something new to check out in the area, and I am happy to be where I am and look forward to see what the future holds for this city!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
As someone who started their business at a young age, I really want to thank the app NextDoor for contributing to my success. NextDoor is an application that allows you to connect with your neighbors and community for things such as, buying and selling items, local tips, recommendations, and to simply help form new connections. This is how word of my business spread, and where most of my business comes from to this day. I also want to thank all my neighbors, friends , and parents who support me even if it’s by simply handing out my business card. Some days can be hard, but having a wonderful support system backing me up help fill my cup up so I can keep pouring it back to my community.

Instagram: @_giospetcareservices